apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I think it might encourage people to create more trash because they can. The emphasis should be less trash in less space. Not more trash in less space.

so, I'm not an expert, but I've heard that the idea that things break down and decompose in landfills, (as in compost heaps), is quite a misconception. supposedly, (again, I haven't verified this), most of the trash stays in its currents state for decades because there is so little air circulation, the trash isn't disturbed, there's relatively little organic matter mixed in, and little pockets form where things stay somewhat preserved.

if that's really the case, then compacting the trash seems almost necessary so landfills would fill up less quickly. if the trash is already just sitting there non decomposing, it doesn't seem like it would make a difference on that front.

I did (very) minor research:

Nevada Division of Environmental Protection says that things won't decompose in a landfill for the following reasons:
- "landfills are designed to prevent decomposition. in order for most items to decompose they need air and water."
- "every day 6 inches of soil is placed on the landfill. these layers of trash are then starved of air."
- "in order to prevent the production and movement of leachate, water is discouraged from entering hte landfill."
- "because of these conditions ('dry tomb'), items in a landfill decompose at a much slower rate than they would in other conditions."
http://nevadarecycles.gov/doc/curriculum/lesson%204%20master.pdf

ah, but there's hope:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1998/02/980220063720.htm

it would be interesting to see if compacted trash would also have improved decomposition with moisture. the probelm is, even if things are decomposing properly, they may not be fully decomposed for hundreds of years (or more), and they're taking up a lot of space in the mean time.

I have the feeling we'll be using our landfills as mines someday anyway.

If you live very far away from any trash station in a rural area, it may be a better idea to use one than to make many car trips with the trash or to stockpile trash (tends to attract annoying or large animals.)

Especially if you live somewhere that you're allowed to compact recyclables. Growing up the trash station was about 30 minutes away. My parents composted and recycled heavily, so there was never much trash to take, but those piles of recycling really add up! It would be nice to take a small chunk of aluminum cans instead of a bunch of bags.

Don't forget that the trash trucks also have built in compactors and the trash is again compacted in the landfill itself. Not much reason to smush it yourself in the name of the environment. But it does make trash more manageable for those who use them. My folks have a masher, but don't use it because it attracts pests (mostly ants, but the occasional mouse that gets in the house too). It stinks too since you are taking the trash out so infrequently, charcoal or not!